Publications (128) View all
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Article: Nanoparticles in oncology: the new theragnostic molecules.
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ABSTRACT: Cancer nanotherapeutics have shown promise in resolving some of the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems such as nonspecific biodistribution and targeting, lack of water solubility, low therapeutic indices, and poor oral bioavailability. Moreover, cancer nanotechnology has the potential of improving current approaches to cancer detection, diagnosis, and imaging. Recently, nanotechnology and molecular imaging have been combined to generate nanoparticles that simultaneously facilitate cancer therapy and diagnosis, the so called theragnostic nanoparticles. The aim of our review is to highlight recent developments within the context of the current knowledge of nanotechnology, to recall the experimental steps that have brought to the clinical development and application of nanoparticles, and explain the biological rationale for their use with oncologic patients. In particular, we summarize recent findings with respect to possible new applications for therapy and diagnosis, and their specific properties. Moreover, we report the more recent prospects in gene therapy, the possibility of using new drug delivery methods, the action of nanoparticles on the immune system and apoptosis, and the concrete possibility of detecting and characterizing circulating tumor cells or of developing new technologies in drug discovery.Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry 07/2011; 11(7):669-86. -
Article: MDR-1 polymorphisms (G2677T and C3435T) in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia: an impact on susceptibility and prognosis.
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ABSTRACT: Patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia present diverse clinical features, genetic abnormalities, variable response to treatment, and heterogeneous prognosis. Novel biological markers such as IgVH mutation, CD38, and ZAP-70 expression have shown to offer important prognostic information. An altered expression of the multidrug resistance 1 may represent an additional prognostic marker. Aim of our study was to evaluate two MDR-1 gene polymorphisms: G2677T polymorphism in exon 21 and C3435T polymorphism in exon 26, to evidence if polymorphisms influence the risk of development of B-CLL and whether genomic polymorphisms provide prognostic information on the clinical progression of the disease. A total of 125 patients with B-CLL and 125 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The mutant homozygous 2677 TT genotype was found to be associated with the occurrence of B-CLL and higher T allele frequency in patients with B-CLL when compared with controls was observed (P=0.009). When comparing the prognostic patients' characteristics, patients with 2677 GT genotype were statistically linked to the unmutated IgVH genes (r=0.209, P=0.01). Moreover, the same genotype was correlated with lymphocyte number (r=0.269, P=0.02). Finally for the 2677GT polymorphism, the heterozygous status was associated with higher hemoglobin levels (r=0.247, P=0.005). As far the C3435T MDR1 polymorphism, we were not able to identify any significant correlation with IgVH gene status or other variables. In conclusion, MDR1 gene polymorphism could be a factor predisposing to LLC. Moreover, our findings support the possibility of considering these genomic polymorphisms as prognostic markers in patients with B-CLL.Medical Oncology 05/2010; 28(4):1549-54. · 2.14 Impact Factor -
Article: Soluble CD138 serum levels are not associated with other poor prognostic markers in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
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ABSTRACT: The clinical course of CLL is highly variable, and survival from the time of diagnosis of CLL can range from months to decades. Novel biological markers such as IgVH mutation, CD38, and ZAP-70 expression have shown to offer important prognostic informations. Few reports deal with the sCD138 levels and bad prognostic factors in patients with CLL, and contrasting data are reported in literature. In our study, we evaluated the serum level of sCD138 in patients with B-CLL and its relationship with other prognostic markers. There was a significant association between advanced Rai stage and serum sCD138 levels in CLL subjects. Patients with Rai stage III-IV had significantly higher levels of sCD138 with respect to controls (48.85±34 ng/ml vs. 31.1±19.34 ng/ml; P<0.05). We were unable to demonstrate a significant association between sCD138 serum levels and IgVH gene status, ZAP-70 expression, CD38 expression, beta-2 microglobulin, absolute peripheral blood lymphocytosis, haemoglobin or LDH levels. Our finding that high sCD138 serum levels correlates with advanced stages in patients with B-CLL is consistent with the possibility molecule can identify patients with high tumour burden, but the lack of correlation between sCD138 serum levels and markers such the mutation status of IgVH, ZAP-70, and CD38 suggests that sCD138 levels only reflect the clinical stage of disease than the clinical course or progression.Medical Oncology 12/2009; 27(4):1336-9. · 2.14 Impact Factor -
Article: Evaluation of circulating endothelial cells, VEGF and VEGFR2 serum levels in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases.
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ABSTRACT: Authors evaluated some markers of angiogenetic activity in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMDs). In this study by using a cytofluorimetric analysis we evaluated circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disease. Moreover, in the same group of subjects, we evaluated serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2). In our patients, we have found an increase in the number of endothelial progenitor cells in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and polycythaemia vera (PV) patients, while an increase of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) was found in all patients with CMD. Moreover, we found higher serum levels of VEGF with respect to control subjects in every group of patients with CMD, and a not significant reduction of VEGFR2 levels in essential thrombocythaemia (ET) patients. A correlation was also found in PV patients between VEGF levels and erythrocyte number and in PMF subjects with the count of white cells. Our data suggest that some markers of angiogenesis are activated in CMD patients and angiogenesis may have a role in the pathophysiology of chronic myeloproliferative disorders.Hematological Oncology 05/2008; 26(4):235-9. · 2.47 Impact Factor -
Article: Patients with bisphosphonates-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw have reduced circulating endothelial cells.
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ABSTRACT: Osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) associated with the use of bisphosphonates is a newly described entity. To elucidate the mechanism leading to ONJ and to test the hypothesis that in patients with ONJ the bisphosphonates may interfere with endothelial cell proliferation, using flow cytometric analysis we evaluated the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in eight patients with bisphosphonate treatment and osteonecrosis, eight multiple myeloma (MM) patients with bisphosphonates treatment without ONJ and five normal subjects. MM patients showed an increase of CD34+ cells with respect the control subjects and ONJ subjects. EPCs and CECs were higher in MM patients compared to controls and ONJ patients. ONJ patients showed a decrease of EPCs compared to control subjects while CECs were similar to the controls group. Our results seem to show the possibility that bisphosphonates could have a antiangiogenic effect and a suppressive effect on CECs of patients with ONJ.Hematological Oncology 01/2008; 25(4):164-9. · 2.47 Impact Factor
